Finland claims that damage to an undersea natural gas pipeline with Estonia on Sunday seemed intentional and was most likely caused by “external activity.”
The Finnish government confirmed damage to a gas pipeline and a telecommunications cable with Estonia on Tuesday, following an unusual decrease in pressure in the Balticconnector gas pipeline, which prompted it to shut down.
Finland Suspects External Activity
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, in a statement on Tuesday, said, “It is likely that damage to both the gas pipeline and the communication cable is the result of outside activity. The cause of the damage is not yet clear, the investigation continues in cooperation between Finland and Estonia.”
At a press conference, Finnish PM Petteri Orpo resisted defining the pipeline damage as sabotage, although he said routine operations couldn’t have caused it.“It is too early to draw conclusions on who or what caused the damage,” Orpo said, adding that gas accounts for 5% of Finland’s energy supply.
Orpo stated that while the pipeline damage was “worrying,” Finland’s energy supply remained stable, and the damage to the telecommunications cable did not affect Finland’s overall connectivity.
🇫🇮🇪🇪 Finland Suspects Gas Line was Damaged Due to "Outside Influence"
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) October 10, 2023
Underwater gas pipeline Between Finland and Estonia, the Balticconnector is blocked due to a strange drop in pressure - sabotage is suspected, although there is no clarity yet.
The President of Finland said… pic.twitter.com/oSRdzHkegq
On Tuesday, Elisa, the Finnish telecoms operator, also reported that a data cable between Finland and Estonia was damaged over the weekend.
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation has launched an inquiry into the pipeline’s external damage. “We are still verifying if the damage is caused deliberately or accidentally,” the bureau stated, adding that the scale of the damage indicated deliberate activity.
Consequently, the bureau stated that causing this pipeline damage takes “special knowledge.”
Commenting on suspected Russian involvement in the current incident, Orpo said he didn’t want to comment on potential perpetrators until officials in Finland concluded their investigation.
Location of Leak in Finland’s Economic Zone
Gasgrid Finland notified authorities on Sunday that a leak causing gas transmission disruption was discovered in the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia on 10 October.
According to a statement released by Finland, the breach is located in Finland’s economic zone.
As per the statement, the Balticconnector gas pipeline was shut down at midnight on 8 October after gas transmission firms Gasgrid in Finland and Elering in Estonia found a breach. The repair of the gas pipeline is expected to take months.
The Finnish government stated that the leak might cause a slight rise in the price of gas in the country throughout the winter but that power prices would not be affected significantly.
On Tuesday, European gas futures soared 13% to just under €50 per megawatt hour, the highest since April, extending Monday's 15% gain. Finland said its suspects a gas pipeline leak in the Baltic Sea was an act of sabotage as supply risks increase. #ausecon #auspol @CommSec pic.twitter.com/cfeobP9XNC
— CommSec (@CommSec) October 10, 2023
A fault in the telecommunications connection linking Finland and Estonia was also reported to the Finnish authorities, the statement said. The cable damage does not affect Finland’s essential telecommunications connections, which function normally.
Depending on the exact location of the fault, the inquiry will be directed by the Finnish or Estonian authorities, who will work together closely.
Estonia’s Response
Estonian PM Kaja Kallas stated that Estonia and Finland had notified their NATO and European Union allies about the incidents and that she was in contact with the Finnish leader about the “next steps” to be finalised.
In a statement, Kallas said, “Both Estonia and Finland are taking these incidents very seriously and are doing everything possible to determine the circumstances.”
The BalticConnector gas pipeline and an undersea communication cable between Estonia and Finland were damaged this weekend.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) October 10, 2023
Investigation is ongoing in close cooperation between Estonia and Finland. Together with Finland @PetteriOrpo, we're coordinating with partners and Allies.
During a news conference, Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur stated that the damaged cable and pipeline “are in very different locations, although the timing [of the incidents] is quite close.”
According to Pevkur, Estonian authorities got images indicating that the Baltic connector damage was “mechanical” and “human-made.”
“This damage must have been caused by some force that was not created by [...] a diver or a small underwater robot; the damage is more massive,” Pevkur said, adding that seismologists claimed that no explosion occurred at the incident’s location.
I held calls with Prime Ministers @kajakallas and @PetteriOrpo on the on-going investigations into the damage on the gas pipeline and data cable connecting Estonia and Finland.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 10, 2023
I strongly condemn any act of destruction of critical infrastructure.
NATO, EU Responses
On Twitter, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that he had spoken with Niinistö about “damage to undersea infrastructure.” He said that NATO is sharing information and that it “stands ready to support Allies concerned.”
Moreover, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she had conversations with Orpo and Kallas about the damage to the gas pipeline and telecommunications cable.
“Only by working together can we counter those seeking to undermine our security, and ensure that our critical infrastructure remains robust and reliable in the face of evolving threats,” she stated.